Historic Airports of Death Valley

[DeathValleyDazed]

I had no idea there was an airstrip at Panamint Springs and one between the current Furnace Creek Visitors Center and the Inn at Death Valley. Check out these fascinating photos and vintage maps. I'm keen to go on a walk about to see if there are any visible remains. 

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airf...A_Inyo.htm

[DAW89446]

I had no idea there was an airstrip at Panamint Springs ...

When approaching PSR from the east, you can plainly see the runway as it comes down to the highway. If memory serves me right, you can also see the upper end as you round the last curve going east and exit the mouth of the canyon. It simply looks like a neglected, semi-maintained dirt road, as depicted in the photos of the website in the link.

I don’t know if it’s gets much traffic. David Bricker ought to know as he has spent a lot of time there; as well as his son Noah, who used to work there.

[Desert Fog]

Here is a report on a plane crash that killed the pilot and two passengers during a landing at Panamint Springs in 1997...

N757CF accident description

[Older Fossil]

I had no idea there was an airstrip at Panamint Springs and one between the current Furnace Creek Visitors Center and the Inn at Death Valley. Check out these fascinating photos and vintage maps. I'm keen to go on a walk about to see if there are any visible remains. 

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airf...A_Inyo.htm

Tim Cassell (one of the PSR owners) used to fly his plane into PSR. I don't know if his is still flying after his miraculous survival after crashing in the Sierras.

Between the VC and the Inn sounds like where Sunset CG is now.

Art

[trailhound]

There is also an airstrip at Stove Pipe Wells and the notorious Chicken Strip near the Saline Valley hot springs.

[DeathValleyDazed]

There is also an airstrip at Stove Pipe Wells and the notorious Chicken Strip near the Saline Valley hot springs.

Here's a cool video of landing and taking off at The Chicken Strip. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmROL2pRmss

And here's a video I created about The Stove Pipe Wells Strip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k719c0XK7Bs

Here's a landing and take off from The Goler Heights Airstrip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBeA9iE_YYY

I learned about the Goler Heights strip by running into these muddy guys at Badwater. I bet the pilots did not appreciate these dudes four wheeling on the airstrip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT7YpIi1SBs

I believe Bonnie Claire is also used by bush pilots to test their skills. I bet someone has landed their plane on the Racetrack Playa but I can't find any evidence of such online.

[GowerGulch42]

I believe Bonnie Claire is also used by bush pilots to test their skills. I bet someone has landed their plane on the Racetrack Playa but I can't find any evidence of such online.

Racetrack Playa was used by illegal pot growers to transport their crop out of the backcountry during a good-sized grow-op on Hunter Mountain around 2013. It was also used as an airport for the Lippincott Lead Mine back when that was operating.

[DAW89446]

Since the discussion is widening in scope and area, South Park, in the Panamint Range, used to be an air strip, often used by the late Sylvia Winslow. I believe one of the two roads crossing the flat was the runway, the one in the middle of the valley. Last time I was up there, it was far too rutted and full of bug dust. Winslow was also a prolific painter and the Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest features her paintings.

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Desert...B0006EFE8S

The book was also available at ABE Books.

Below is a short bio.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2169...a-v.-kirby

South Park runway: https://goo.gl/maps/uUd85aDc9CVsBRPz9

[bbbb]

A couple of references in this article...

https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-cart...story.html

In 1990, federal agents saw Ward’s plane touch down on a landing strip near Death Valley. The ground crew unloaded 500 pounds of marijuana, and Ward flew off into the night. A government pilot gave chase with his lights out but lost him. Agents found the plane later at Banning Municipal Airport. The belly was coated with dirt, the engine still hot. But Ward was gone.

...A pilot flies over a mountain pass and descends towards a dry lake bed named the Racetrack inside Death Valley National Park, CA. This is the same flight route that Sinaloa Cartel drug pilot John Ward described in a prison interview as using to reach the Racetrack. He made illegal landings here to delivery marijuana he smuggled across the border from Mexico.

[DeathValleyDazed]

Since the discussion is widening in scope and area, South Park, in the Panamint Range, used to be an air strip, often used by the late Sylvia Winslow.

Hey David, Sure loving your detailed history notes and links. That link to the airstrip on Google Maps was super helpful as the furthest south on the west slope of the Panamints I've been on foot is Surprise Canyon.

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In 1990, federal agents saw Ward’s plane touch down on a landing strip near Death Valley. 

Hard to believe this was thirty years ago and in some ways the illicit drug business has not changed.